giant off under the wave and beached itself so suddenly that
the American consul was thrown forward to his knees. Gordon
did not wait to pick him up, but jumped out and shook hands
with the young man who had turned handsprings, while the
natives gathered about them in a circle and chatted and
laughed in delighted excitement.

"I'm awfully glad to see you," said the young man, eagerly.
"My name's Stedman. I'm from New Haven, Connecticut. Where
are you from?"

"New York," said Albert. "This," he added, pointing solemnly
to Captain Travis, who was still on his knees in the boat, "is
the American consul to Opeki." The American consul to Opeki
gave a wild look at Mr. Stedman of New Haven and at the
natives.

"See here, young man," he gasped, "is this all there is of
Opeki?"

"The American consul?" said young Stedman, with a gasp of
amazement, and looking from Albert to Captain Travis. "Why, I
never supposed they would send another here; the last one died
about fifteen years ago, and there hasn't been one since.
I've been living in the consul's office with the Bradleys, but
I'll move out, of course. I'm sure I'm awfully glad to see
you. It'll make it so much more pleasant for me."

"Yes," said Captain Travis, bitterly, as he lifted his
rheumatic leg over the boat; "that's why we came."